The Daphne Zepos Teaching Award (DZTA), our larger annual scholarship given to food industry professionals to further their learning —and their ability to educate others—about cheese, specifically through traveling.

Click here to read Daphne’s Vision.

Yes. The Daphne Zepos Research Award (DZRA) is our other annual $2,900 scholarship given to food industry professionals to further their learning, research, and their ability to educate others about cheese.

Applicants must be members of the American Cheese Society, as well as have worked in the food industry for at least three of the past six years.

Should the recipient of the DZTA not currently have a membership through employment, the Daphne Zepos Teaching Endowment will purchase a membership for them. Furthermore, anyone who had purchased an individual membership for 2024 will be reimbursed after receiving the award.

The DZTA scholarship is $6,800.

When the recipient has begun making travel arrangements and can provide proof of traveler's insurance, the board of directors will release the funds.

The board of directors of the Daphne Zepos Teaching Endowment.

They’re seeking a compelling vision from someone who wants to make a lasting educational impact in the cheese world. They’re looking for someone who can make the most of the funds. They’re looking for a proven track record of getting things done.

Apply again! A number of our award recipients applied two, three, or four times before receiving the award. After the award is announced, each applicant receives detailed anonymous feedback from the board about their submission and is invited to discuss this feedback with our administrative team and Advisory Committee, if desired. This feedback can be very helpful in honing and growing your project.

An elevator pitch is a a short video that allows the board to see that you can concisely summarize the objective of your project but also hook them to be intrigued before even reading your vision. An example of one is available to view here.